Special day for heroes in Stockton

STOCKTON - Dozens who have demonstrated bravery and heroism stood stoically on stage with their hands clasped in front of them as Stockton Police Chief Eric Jones read riveting accounts of their actions during an awards ceremony Wednesday at Stockton Arena.

STOCKTON - Dozens who have demonstrated bravery and heroism stood stoically on stage with their hands clasped in front of them as Stockton Police Chief Eric Jones read riveting accounts of their actions during an awards ceremony Wednesday at Stockton Arena.

The Police Department honored 37 officers, seven firefighters and four citizens who acted with extraordinary valor. Jones said he felt privileged to recognize the men and women who received awards, some of whom saved the lives of men, women and young children.

"Some of those stories are hard for me to read because they're very moving stories, and some of them are pretty emotional," Jones said. "To say I'm proud of the police staff, the firefighters and the citizens who did what they did is an understatement. It's an honor for me to be able to give out these awards."

In one of the most compelling stories, Jones recounted a high-speed pursuit that ended with a deadly crash after a carjacker shot at police.

On Dec. 11, 2012, members of the Police Department's Community Response Team were searching for a pickup belonging to a 55-year-old man who had been carjacked and beaten. Sgt. Matt Garlick saw two suspects get out of a vehicle matching the pickup's description and get into another vehicle, Jones said.

Garlick tried to stop the vehicle, but the suspects fled at speeds up to 70 mph. While pursuing the suspects, Garlick saw muzzle flashes from the driver's window and realized he was being fired upon, Jones said. Officers James Manor, Jeff Pope and Thomas Heslin were trailing Garlick and also noticed the gunfire.

"You really don't have time to think about it," Manor said. "You see it and you hear it, but you have a job to do, so you try to stay calm and stay focused."

As the vehicle sped down Pershing Avenue, the driver lost control, flipped off the northbound Interstate 5 onramp, hit a tree and came to rest on its roof, Jones said. Four people were trapped inside, including one who died.

While Manor communicated with the gunman on a cellphone, Lt. Lee Kissell and Stockton Fire Department Battalion Chief Matt Knierim devised a plan to extricate the occupants, Jones said. SWAT team officers donned helmets, protective vests and shields to safeguard firefighters who used specialized tools to open the doors to rescue the occupants.

The first person extracted was the driver, who admitted to firing at police with a revolver, Jones said. SWAT officers handcuffed the man as he was removed from the vehicle and discovered he was lying on a sawed-off semiautomatic rifle with an extended magazine, Jones said.

"That was an example of a very unusual and unique situation where things were unfolding quickly," Jones said. "One moment, somebody's trying to kill police officers. The next moment, police officers and firefighters are trying to save them."

"I like to think the people who are on the Community Response Team, the Police Department personnel and the Fire Department personnel are cream-of-the-crop people, and they just have that ability," Kissell said. "They have what it takes to be able to perform well in those types of situations."

Other recipients of the Meritorious Service Award were Officers Esteban Arrieta, Paul Dona, Anthony Perry and Joe Silva.

Walker was credited with saving the life of an 80-year-old man who was viciously attacked by two dogs while checking his mail on Aug. 29. Dona was honored for saving a 7-month-old girl who was choking on July 18.

Silva, the Police Department's public information officer, was recognized for heroic off-duty actions on Valentine's Day. Silva, a Stockton native who will also be honored at the American Red Cross' annual Heroes Breakfast April 9 in Lodi, was dining with his family when he disarmed and detained a gunman who threatened to shoot patrons at a busy restaurant.

"I'm honored to be a Stockton police officer because today I was fortunate enough to be on the same stage with some of the most dedicated and hardest-working police officers I know," Silva said. "For me to be recognized by my peers and the leadership of the Police Department for doing my job is appreciated. I'm just very proud to work for this city and give back to the community where I grew up and lived most of my life."

Contact reporter Jason Anderson at (209) 546-8279 or janderson@recordnet.com. Follow him at recordnet.com/crimeblog or on Twitter @Stockton911.